The pot thickens: Novafill patents moving jar filler for liquids
The “Doseur en Continue” (continuous dispenser) “fills many pots simultaneously,” said Valéry Belz, manager of French manufacturer Novafill. “It has a dispensing pump which turns at the same time as the pots.”
The machine operates at “very high capacity,” said Belz, filling up to 500 pots per minute, or in some cases 36,000 an hour on a single line. Filling is uninterrupted with no downtime, claimed the company.
The pump’s rotation speed is synchronised with the movement of pots on the production line. It continuously releases individual doses of liquid at intervals which can be altered according to customer requirements.
Production ‘in the nick of time’
The “extremely versatile” machine has few moving pieces, said Belz, so production can be shifted rapidly without needing to change tools.
Adjustments and maintenance are easier with fewer parts, so the dispenser reduces maintenance costs and machine stopping, according to the company.
This flexibility will increase production capacity, said Belz. Manufacturers will deliver to clients more quickly by being able to set up last-minute production lines “in the nick of time.”
Height can be controlled for bigger containers but production managers do not need to adjust machinery because distance between jars remains the same no matter their size.
The Doseur en Continue can be used for all hot and cold liquids and viscous fluids. Novafill’s manager anticipated it will be used in the food industry for potted jams, gels and creams, but not for filling beverage bottles.
